I have been play the first game of the .hack series .hack//infection during my commute (1 hour each way by train, twice a week).
I loved the idea behind this series, a simulated MMORPG, in which you play as a person that is playing an MMORPG. This MMO is called "The World". I did have this game when it was originally released it 2003, but did it play through any more of the series. Hopefully I can get through all 4 this time.
To expand there are parts of the game that exist outside of the "The World" game . When you first start the game you are at your desktop with few options,
- The World
- Play the game
- Mailer
- News
- umm read news
- Accessory
- change your desltop
- Audio
- change background music
- Data
- save your game
You check email, that is often from the others "player" of "The World". Read message board posts, and NEWS reports about various topics like the company that created "The World".
A mystery begins when the individual that invited you to "The World" goes missing, and you uncover this is not an isolated incident.
The mechanic are very MMO like, you load dungeon through a three word combination, battle through said dungeon. Rinse. Repet on another combination of three words.
The combat mechanics do take a bit of getting used to. I often found myself forgetting to give commands to the other members of the party. You can be vague and give commands like "Skills", "First Aid", and "Weaken". You could also have other party members use a specific skill. Then there are more elaborate battle plans that can be triggered.
The game has 2 disks with the second containing episodes of the companion story. Including some "easter egg" thre word combinations, that you can explore in the main game.
Being the first in the series, you can take your saved game from this game into the next. Starting the second stronger and with more resources than if you skipped this game.
